impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish 

: of, relating to, or befitting an imp

especially : mischievous

impishly adverb

impishness noun

Synonyms of impish

• mischievous
• wicked
• playful

Examples of impish in a Sentence

the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic

Recent Examples on the Web

When Pirog played a flashy line, which was often, Vile let out a cackle, an impish, cowpoke whoopee ti-yi-yo. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

The impish half-smile that irritates opponents eventually returns to his face, though. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026

Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026

His sponsors demand little more from the guy than an impish smile during television ads, and his press conferences for Inter Miami are few and far between. — Filip Bondy, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish 

: mischievous sense 3

impishly adverb

impishness noun